Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-10
WHEATS WINTERING.
The General Average of Condition
n Little Poorer than Last Year.

The General Average of Condition
Little Poorer than Last Year.
WASHINGTON, April 9,--The report Of
the Department of Agriculture for April
relates to the condition of winter grain
and the comparative healtblulress Of
farm animals. The returns show that the
condition OF the soil at the time of seed
ing wheat was somewhat unfavorahle in
the States Of The Atlantic ard Cult coasl5
owing TO drought during the late summer
ana autumn, which was most severe IN
portions Of Pennsylvania, in Maryland
ard Virginia, and in parts OF TeXas. The
same untaVorabl0 conditions prevailed In
western Missouri and in Kansas.
FLOWING DIFFICULT.
The continued dry weather made plow-
ing difficult, seeding late and in localities
where it was unbroken when winter set
in termination was slow and the fail
growth small. In the great wheat States
OF the central West, from Tennessee 10
Missouri, the seed bed in the greater pnrt
OF the area was 10 favorable condition,
and with local exceptions, the plant mace
good growth before going into wIntSr
quarters. On the Pscitlo slope the early
seeding time was dry, but rains came
later and tue whole breadth was put in
usual date.
THE COVERING OF SNOW.
The covering OF snow during the early
portion OF the winter was better than
usual over large part OF the wheata rea,
but there are from many sections com
plants OF scanty protection during the
very trying weather since Feb. 10. The
month OF March was the most severe tor
a series OF years, the temperature being
below the average over the whole wheat
area east OF the Mississippi river, and
alter nate freezing and thawing wrought
serious damage to the bare fields, es-
pecially in bottom and poorly drained
lands. Pennsylvania, Virginia and OHIO
suffered severely from this inclemency.
THE AVERAGES.
The general average OF condition Is IS,
the same as in 1881, and higher than at
the same date in 1884 and 1885, when
it was so and rs respectively. The April
condition OF last year was $40, which was
still further improved by favorable
weather during the month. The averages
for the principal States are: New York
81, Pennsylvania 10, Maryland 81, Vlr-
ginia 10, Texas 10, Tennessee "a. Ken
lucky 81, Ohio 10, Michigan 92, Indiana
80, Illinois 80. Missouri 50, Kansas SO,
California 81, OreQon93.
Damage from the Hessian fly IL COM
paratiyelY unnoticed. Its presence is
mentioned in from one to four counties in
New York, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Michigan.
RYE STANDS IT BETTER.
Rye has withstOod the untavorable
meteorological conditions better than
wheat, the average OF condition being 81
against So at the same date year ago.
The returns OF the condition OF farm
animals show a loss Of swine amounting
to 1874 per cent, or over $780,
600, and indicates continued wide
spread prevalence OF hog cholera.
The loss of sheep amount TO
seven per cent, and Of cattle 10
A $40 per cent. Losses of cattle are beay-
lest in the South and on the ranges OF the
far West, from to Q per cent, while in
sections where shelter is provided and
better care taken il amounts to only 81
TO per cont. The loss among horses, az
usual, Is very small, amounting for the
whole country to less than ITO Of per
cent.